Chapter 735 : Threshold of the Primordial Spirit

After bidding farewell to Maris the Sea Steader, Eldrin Chen did not immediately depart from The Vast Sea. Instead, he proceeded directly to Celestial Vault Isle.

Upon meeting Nyssa Qu, he could not help but ask, "How do you feel?"

"Thanks to this opportunity, my injuries have completely healed," she replied. "Moreover, I can vaguely sense that my Mana [the core spiritual energy cultivated by practitioners] has become perfectly harmonious and complete."

Nyssa Qu spoke with evident joy. The injuries she sustained in her battle against Hemlock the Bloodweaver years ago had been severe. Now, with the infusion of a vast amount of Water Essence Power, she had seized the chance to fully recover.

Not only that, but Nyssa Qu also felt she was touching the threshold of the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a quasi-immortal realm just below the true Primordial Spirit stage].

"Truly?"

Eldrin Chen exclaimed with pleasant surprise. Having sworn the Great Oath of Reincarnation, Nyssa Qu was now considered largely a member of the Chen Clan. Her breakthrough would grant the clan a powerful trump card at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit level.

Furthermore, Nyssa Qu possessed the Innate Pure Yang Divine Ability and the Seven-Colored Immortal Radiance. Once she advanced to the Half-Step Primordial Spirit realm, her combat prowess, while perhaps not quite matching that of the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor who wielded the Azure Jade Heaven-Measuring Ruler, would likely be very close.

After all, the Seven-Colored Immortal Clam was a being of Mythical Immortal Seed [a legendary innate constitution with immense potential]. Both her Mana and her foundational strength surpassed those of the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor, who had not yet undergone its draconic ascension.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen spoke decisively, "Then you should enter seclusion for your breakthrough. I will stand guard for you." Official source: www . audio-novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

"How could I possibly impose?"

Though her heart leapt with joy, Nyssa Qu spoke these words.

After all, the person before her had saved her life. For an ordinary person, she might have pledged to repay the debt in her next life as an ox or horse. Yet, the one standing before her now stirred a different kind of longing within her heart.

For the man before her was clad in a White Robe as pure as snow, his bearing as elegant as fine jade, his aura akin to that of a celestial being who had descended into the mortal world—truly a sight rarely seen between heaven and earth.

"Worry not. In the future, if you guard this Celestial Vault Isle well for me, I will have profited greatly."

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, then personally stood guard before the Water Vein [a concentrated, flowing source of water-attributed spiritual energy] to protect her during her cultivation.

This Celestial Vault Isle not only possessed a Fifth Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a high-quality source of ambient spiritual energy], but was also aided by a Quasi-Sixth Rank Water Vein. It could be said to be the most ideal treasure land for Nyssa Qu to attempt her breakthrough into the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [an advanced stage of spiritual cultivation, a transitional realm before achieving a full Primordial Spirit].

With the aid of such a blessed site, combined with Nyssa Qu's peerless natural talent, this breakthrough proceeded with remarkable smoothness. In merely a few months, she successfully summoned her Earthly Soul [one of the three spiritual souls in Daoist cosmology, representing the soul's connection to the mortal world and physical form], achieving the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm [a transitional stage where the cultivator's spiritual core begins its transformation into a nascent, independent spiritual entity] in one fell swoop.

After her breakthrough, not only did Nyssa Qu's Mana [the internal reservoir of spiritual energy used to power techniques and spells] increase dramatically, but her physical body also became more flawless and perfect, her graceful figure appearing even more full and alluring.

Clad in a gown of seven colors, her brows gentle and eyes warm, she offered a respectful bow to Eldrin Chen before speaking with a smile, "This humble one has not disgraced your trust. I have finally broken through to the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm."

"Excellent, excellent, excellent."

Watching her emerge from seclusion after her breakthrough, Eldrin Chen also smiled faintly. He then helped her to her feet and said, "Your power has grown immensely. In the future, should I need to leave The Vast Sea, I would ask you to watch over the clan for me."

"Young Master saved this humble one's life and slew that Hemlock the Bloodweaver. Naturally, I shall regard the Young Master's family as my own."

Nyssa Qu spoke softly, then lowered her gaze with a gentle smile. "Henceforth, the Chen Clan shall be this humble one's Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators who have achieved immortality]. Should anyone dare to act against it, I will not allow them to succeed."

"With your word, I am at ease." Eldrin Chen felt a weight lift from his heart and smiled. "However, your identity is unique. Before you break through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm, you must remain hidden. Do not act rashly unless absolutely necessary."

"This humble one understands." Nyssa Qu nodded, then added, "Young Master need not worry. With my current strength, I will certainly not let any information leak."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen smiled once more. Nyssa Qu rarely showed herself in the wider world. If she concealed her aura, even if she took action, it was unlikely she would be detected.

Furthermore, given Nyssa Qu's current power, it was probable that even an ordinary Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the verge of achieving the Primordial Spirit realm] would find it difficult to escape with their life from her grasp.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen said, "It is not convenient for me to linger here. I must trouble you to guard Celestial Vault Isle for me."

"Then I bid the Young Master a safe journey."

Nyssa Qu offered a slight bow, watching the departing figure of Eldrin Chen with an inexplicable sense of loss in her heart.

Having left the core of the Water Vein, Eldrin Chen intended to pay his respects once more to the Earthly Soul [the earthly, mortal aspect of a cultivator's soul] of Qing the Ancient Ancestor. However, he found that Qing seemed to have fallen into deep slumber once again. Unwilling to disturb the Ancient Ancestor, he departed from Celestial Vault Isle alone.

At the same time, deep within the furthest reaches of the Vast and Boundless Marsh...

Within the boundless expanse of the marsh, spanning hundreds of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], lay a colossal island. At its heart was a bottomless, deep pool.

This pool was named the 'Hidden Dragon Abyss'. True to its name, the Hidden Dragon Abyss was an unfathomable chasm where a True Dragon [a supreme, primordial dragon species] lay concealed.

At this moment, the 'Hidden Dragon Abyss' was shrouded in profound silence. The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor gazed mutely at the shadowy form before it, its expression one of perpetual, trembling awe. Original publication: audio-novel`com - The source of this chapter.

That shadow lurked within the inviolable depths, veiled by endless seawater, its true nature impossible to discern.

Yet, upon closer inspection, one could perceive a colossal silhouette stretching for a full ten thousand Li-lengths.

It resembled the world-cleaving Black Dragon from Myth [ancient legends and folklore]. Each of its scales was as vast as a mountain range, refracting a light that seemed indestructible and eternal.

And this was while it remained coiled upon itself. One could scarcely imagine how this being, whose size rivaled the stars themselves, would blot out the very heavens when it finally unfurled its majestic form.

"Grandfather, your child was wrong. I beg for your punishment!"

The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor lowered its head, all its former majesty gone, and spoke while trembling.

Deep within the void, silence reigned. Only after a long while did the shadowy figure stir. A colossal, pitch-black dragon head, even larger than the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor, extended forward and asked with indifference.

"Do you know where you erred?"

"Your child..." The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor trembled from head to tail, its voice thick with terror. "Your child should not have opened the breach, causing the Water Essence Power [the concentrated spiritual energy of water] of Azure Wave Lake to leak out."

"Fool!" roared the Black Dragon, its voice filled with profound disappointment. "You still do not understand the true nature of your failure."

"You must understand, in this world, the strong are revered. Power is the ultimate principle that determines all."

"Among my descendants, your talent is unparalleled. You had three opportunities to break through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm. Yet, each time, you claimed you lacked absolute certainty, insisting on waiting until you were fully prepared."

"But where in this world are there perfect affairs? How many such fortuitous encounters will wait for you to squander? Had you seized the chance, you might have long since ascended to Primordial Spirit. How then could you have allowed Dorian Ji and that whelp Eldrin, the Abyss to ride roughshod over you?"

Faced with the Black Dragon Demon Progenitor's rebuke, the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor turned deathly pale, utterly at a loss for words.

Only after a long while did the Black Dragon Demon Progenitor speak, its voice cold and detached. "Within the Southern Sea, lies the opportunity for your transformation into a true dragon [the ultimate ascension for serpentine demon beasts]."

"If you fail to turn over a new leaf this time, I shall wash my hands of your affairs forevermore."

Having spoken these words, the Black Dragon Demon Progenitor vanished into the fathomless depths of the abyssal pool, leaving behind only a dark silhouette that gradually dissolved into nothingness.

The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor stood motionless for a long, long time. Only then did the fear in its pupils slowly recede, replaced by a glint of cold, resolute light.

"An opportunity... to become a dragon?" it murmured to itself, the words hanging in the heavy, damp air. Immerse yourself in the complete world at site: audio-novel.com.